{michellepatterns.com}

Thoughts on Copyright Please...and Thanks.

 

eavesdropping by corid

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Soooo...I'm thinking about changing my copyright to allow for selling online.  Let me babble on for a minute about the hows & whys.  Then please feel free to chime in with your opinion--it will help me make my decision. 

Current Copyright

For the past eight months or so my copyright has allowed for selling items created from them offline only.  When I first started making patterns I was also selling a lot of the finished items, so I didn't want to create competition for myself using my own designs.  This is my job and I have to keep my financial interests in mind in order to pay the bills.

Now I'm really concentrating on the patterns and don't have the time or inclination to do production sewing. I thought I'd like to continue to reserve the designs for selling myself in the future, but who knows when that time will come. I may just make patterns from here on out.

Pay to Play

Over time I've had a few people pay a little extra to purchase the full rights allowing them to sell online. Originally I advertised this option but got so many convos--and not many buyers--that I stopped announcing the option was available.  A few people took me up on it after initiating a conversation with me about buying rights.

Since the majority of commercial patterns are meant for home sewing/personal use only allowing sales of the finished goods seems like a big bonus in a pattern. I know a lot of people don't realize this is the case or just ignore it, but the fact is in most cases you are not supposed to use patterns for commercial purposes and could find yourself in legal trouble.  My analogy is that The Gap doesn't send someone down to the local fabric store to buy a $12 Simplicity pattern and then mail it to Vietnam and produce thousands of units of clothing to be sold worldwide.

Paying for the rights also kept it exclusive for those who wanted to pursue selling online.  Exclusivity can be valuable in a competitive environment.

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ella and ruth having a little talk by corid

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Confrontations

Every once in awhile I get a convo letting me know that person B on etsy is selling finished items from my patterns.  Usually person A who sent me the note wants to be able to do the same.  Then I have to go to person B and ask them to stop, explain why they can't do that, etc., etc.  Nobody likes dealing with this.

Now person B is unhappy because they either didn't know, or where caught doing something illegal/unethical, person A is unhappy because I have to tell them "no, the copyright hasn't changed", and person C (me) is unhappy because I have to play police.  

What Am I Trying to Get At Here

*The economy is a mess and I think people would appreciate being able to sell items from my patterns to hopefully make a few extra dollars.  The option to sell online would come with the pattern and wouldn't need to be purchased separately.

*I hate confrontations. Well I don't hate them, and have grown to accept that if you are business for yourself you are going to have to do and say somethings that might not be all that fun.

*I don't have time to sew my own designs and am not really cut out for production sewing, so maybe there is no point in reserving a right for myself that I may never use?

What do you think???  Please leave me a comment if you have an opinion. 

Need a minute to think?  Browse through the lovely prints by corid and then come back to let me know your thoughts.  

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the speech by corid

Print Troubleshooting for PDF Sewing Patterns

If you are having trouble printing your PDF sewing pattern below are two tips for the most common problems--sizing and printing gibberish.

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Problem: Document Isn't Printing Correct Size

Potential Solution: Print actual size by turning off any scaling. Your printer wants to resize all documents to certain specifications by "scaling" the document to the printer's preferred size.  For many printers this is the default so you need to manually override the scaling. 

1. In the upper left hand corner of your document click "file" and then select "print" and the print options will appear. 

2. In the drop down box for "Page Scaling" select "none".  If none is not an option but "100%" is shown in the box, select 100% to tell your printer to print the document 100% of the actual size. 

Don't be confused by the "fit to printable area" option--your printer is just pulling your leg a little.  There is more "printable area" than this option gives.  You do NOT want this option. 

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Problem: The document prints gibberish/doesn't print photos/other strange print happenings.

Potential Solution: Turn down the dpi (dots per inch).  Newer versions of Adobe Reader default to 600 dpi (I think...) and if you have an older printer you may only be able to print at 300 dpi. 

1. In the upper left hand corner select "file" and then choose "print" and the print options will appear. 

2. Click the box that says "properties".

 

3. Click the "Advanced" tab at the top.  

4. In the Resolution section click the radio button next to 300 dpi. 

5. Click "ok" to close this box and then "ok" again and it should print correctly. 

I've had many requests for this pattern but just thinking about making the pattern pieces caused my mind to shut down. It has seven pages of pattern pieces. Most of my patterns have only 2-3 pages of pattern pieces. The pattern pages require quite a bit of detail work to make them look nice but I'm getting so much faster at it that it really went smoothly.

Here are the details:

Make yourself a new bag with plenty of pocket space using this simple sewing pattern.

This bag has two pants style front pockets that extend over most of the front of the bag. Each pocket reaches almost to the center and extends down to the top of the darts. Inside is another double patch pocket.

This pattern includes step-by-step instructions, clear photos and lots of extra tips to help you make your bag perfect.

Measures: 14" at widest point across the bottom x 8.5" high x 3.5" deep. Two 20" straps so you can carry it comfortably in your hand or hang it off your shoulder.

Closes with a flap and magnetic snap.

Pattern pieces included for the bag body, pockets and for both flap styles shown in the photos. You will need to use a ruler or yardstick to make the strap pieces and patch pocket.

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SUPPLIES:

3/4 yard focus fabric (exterior fabric)
3/4 yard lining/pocket fabric
3/4 yard iron-on interfacing
14mm-18mm magnetic snap
Decorative button for flap front if desired

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Pattern Weights

I'm experimenting with using pattern weights instead of pins when cutting out clothing.  I haven't made clothes in years but am feeling inspired to start making some things for myself.  The weights seem really convenient and like they won't bunch up the fabric like pinning sometimes does.

These pattern weights are probably too big but I'll give a go and see how they work out. They were made with scrap fabric and stuffed with dried beans.  If they don't I might use this tip and go buy large washers!

The Button Shop

Last week The Button Shop was on the front page of etsy and I couldn't resist buying some cedar buttons.  They are really great and I can't wait to use them!  Go check out the other buttons--there are many great wooden buttons in their shop.  In the future I'd like to buy some of these or these or these.

 

New Pattern Coming Soon

 

I Hope It's Ok by Michele Maule

The last two weeks have been mostly a flurry of writing on the work front.  I will have a new pattern next week and it is one that a lot of people have asked about so I'm pretty excited to get it done so everyone can get sewing. 

The new pattern will be my most ambitious yet as far as instructions and pattern pieces. With the last pattern I definitely felt a bit of a writer's block with the zipper explanation. A zipper was something I had wanted to use in a pattern for a while but the task of explaining it clearly was a bit daunting to me.  Getting past that has given me more confidence to tackle more complicated bags. 

Don't forget to sign up for the email list (look to your left) if you'd like to get a special offer with the new pattern release.  In the meantime, check out the lovely work of Michele Maule who paints these great typewriter images. I love how the letters are flying out them! 

I Miss You by Michele Maule